Reflection for assignment 6

Assignment 6 was very useful to complete. This assignment was to make an annotated bibliography for a specific topic. I really enjoyed doing this because it refreshed how to do it. This is a very important skill to have because for a lot of papers, especially research papers, most teachers require an annotated bibliography. This assignment also helped to narrow down sources for a paper. It allowed us to see the strengths and weaknesses of a website to determine if we will use it for our paper or not. One common problem I was finding was that certain websites had barely any information on them. They were designed poorly and I was unsure if they were a reliable source. Certain sources were much more creditable and showed evidence of that. The most reliable sources were .edu, or .org websites. A lot of the .coms were very general and did not provide good information. This assignment was very helpful and is definitely needed in the field of teaching. Students are being introduced to works cited pages and bibliographies at a much younger age and it is important for them to learn how to do these things to avoid plagiarism. They also need these skills for almost every class they will take from middle school onto higher education.

Reflection for Digital Story

The digital story was a fun assignment because it allowed me to be creative and make up a story or use pictures from an actual event that occurred in my life. I chose to create my story about a concert I went to last year with my sister Samantha. There were three bands. The first one was Taking Back Sunday, the second was Weezer, and the third and my favorite one was Blink 182. For my digital story I put pictures from the concert and narrated about the bands a little bit. At the end I tried to record a song. This assigment wasn't that hard. It was hard in the beginning, but once I familiarized myself with the program it was very easy. The hardest part was narrating because sometimes the narration wasn't in the right spot for the picture. I was having a really hard time adding music as well until I decided to record a narration of a song from my ipod dock. That was the only way to add some. I overcame my difficulties with this assignment and assignments in the past by trial and error. Each task was not correct the first time I did it. I had to constantly change and move things around. After awhile, I was able to produce a successful project. This project was beneficial because this program is definitely something I will use in the future. I can use this program to document important events in my life as well as use it for educational purposes. Students in a classroom can use this program to make an assignment creative and present it to the class. Teachers can use this program to present material in an interesting and creative way. Technology is all around us and it is important to introduce ourselves immediately to what is being offered. I thought, at 21 years old, that I knew a lot about technology, but I am finding out through this class that there are so many programs that I never knew existed. These programs are so beneficial and will really open more opportunities.

Reflection for Assignment # 3

For this assignment, we were asked to make a fictitious grade book using Microsoft Excel. I thought this assignment was really interesting and taught me a lot about using Excel, a program that I have never used before. This program is very easy to use and has a lot of features that make things a lot easier to, such as mathematical problems. We were also required to make a powerpoint, showing that we know how to embed a file into a document, and also to show our skills using powerpoint. We had to include hiding a slide and using action buttons to navigate through our slide shows. After this we were also required to write a letter to the principal explaining our grade book and how we created it, and then embed the grade book into the document again. This assignment included many different skills, all of which are important in the field of education. Microsoft programs are used all the time in the field of teaching and are essential for papers and projects. Microsoft Excel allowed me to easily make a grade book and the math functions of "sum" and "average" made the math very easy to compute. It is interesting that you only have to write the formula once and highlight the column and it will apply it to the entire column. This is definitely something I will use in the future for teaching. It is easy and organized and I will never have to use a written gradebook and do the math myself. After completing multiple assignments, I can really understand the benefits of technology in the classroom. It is important that we can present material in a way that is interesting and memorable. The benefits of all of these assignments so far are that these programs have introduced me to many different ways I can present material as a teacher. Students can also use any of these programs with ease and present their material to the class. I will definitely use these programs from now on.

Reflection # 5

Our group chose to do a rubric and evaluation form for Microsoft Word. We chose Microsoft Word because we use this program all of the time and we wanted to find out more about it. While doing the software evaluation form for Microsoft Word, it was interesting to see the qualities of the program. The form helped me to understand how to evaluate a program and see what it can be used for. It is also beneficial to see the help tools and who to contact if something is confusing or not working properly. There are so many help tools available in almost every program, but the help tools in Microsoft Word can help with almost any problem in the program. It shows you a step by step way to figure something out. I did not really consider this assignment to be too difficult because we were able to make up our own rubric for what the program contained. It was also not difficult to find the information about the program. I understand the point of the evaluation form to be to inform people about the program and what it can be used for. Microsoft Word is definitely a program that should be used in teaching and everywhere else. I understand the importance of integrating this program into the field of teaching because this is the main program associated with typing essays and projects. Many students have this program and they are learning to use it at a very young age. I would like to be a teacher in the future and I am trying to learn about every feature of this program to be able to help the students out.

Reflection - Assignment 4

Using Cmap to create a concept map was not hard at all. The program is very user friendly and almost anyone would be able to use it. It is really fun to be able to create a concept map exactly how you want to and place things where you want to. Our assignment was to create a lesson plan using cmap and I chose to write one about preschoolers learning to wash their hands. Using Cmap is definitely a useful tool for the field of education because it is well organized and visually stimulating. It is a lot easier to look at and read compared to a text document in Microsoft Word. When I become a teacher, I will definitely use this program to set up objectives for each class and daily lesson plans. I might also make my students use this program for organizing thoughts for essays or projects or for any other assignment. I think it is way easily than writing something out or typing a long document. This can also be used in a business setting for examples of new proposals. It is short and concise and the person can elaborate when they read their notes. I think the most difficult part of this assignment was putting the concept map into the powerpoint document. Once I was given directions on how to do so, it became very simple. Before doing any assignment that I am unsure of, I always ask for help to make sure I am doing the right thing. This assignment had many benefits. I never knew this program existed (This seems to be the case every time we cover a new topic). This program is very useful and definitely something I will use in the future. I can definitely see why technology in the classroom is such an important thing. All of these programs are very beneficial for teachers and especially students, who are growing up with all of these new programs.

Online Assignment for 9/28

Teachers should definitely know a lot about Microsoft Word and Powerpoint, especially if they are teaching students who are in high school or college. These two programs are the programs that are used the most frequently for every assignment, especially Microsoft Word. It is very important that the teachers know how to educate the student about the format in which they want them to write their report. They must also be able to use the new version of Microsoft Word because everyone has a different edition. All teachers should know how to change the spacing of the text from single spaced to double spaced or vice versa. For powerpoint, teachers must know how to create slides that include text and pictures so they are eye catching for students. They shouldn't put too much text on the slides because the powerpoints are used for learning and if there is too much text, they won't retain any information. They must also know how to make each slide colorful, meaning the text and the background. Along with what I thought, I found a list online that shows basic things that teachers should know.
1.Word Processing Skills
2.Spreadsheets Skills
3.Database Skills
4.Electronic Presentation Skills
5.Web Navigation Skills
6.Web Site Design Skills
7.E-Mail Management Skills
8.Digital Cameras
9.Computer Network Knowledge Applicable to your School System
10.File Management & Windows Explorer Skills
11.Downloading Software From the Web (Knowledge including eBooks)
12.Installing Computer Software onto a Computer System
13.WebCT or Blackboard Teaching Skills
14.Videoconferencing skills
15.Computer-Related Storage Devices (Knowledge: disks, CDs, USB drives, zip disks, DVDs, etc.)
16.Scanner Knowledge
17.Knowledge of PDAs
18.Deep Web Knowledge
19.Educational Copyright Knowledge
20.Computer Security Knowledge
These are 20 basic things in technology that teachers should be able to do.
(http://thejournal.com/articles/2005/06/01/20-technology-skills-every-educator-should-have.aspx).

Reflection 2

Creating the website was definitely one of the hardest things I have ever had to do using a computer. It was a very difficult concept for me to grasp in the beginning but once I familiarized myself with the program it became a little easier. I still believe that if I had to do this assignment again I would not be able to do it without assistance for some things. Adding pictures and links were the easiest parts for me. It was also very simple to type up little blurbs about myself. The hardest thing for me was to link the two pages back to one another. At first it wasn't working at all, but then with help from you (the instructor), I was able to see that the reason it wasn't working was because the index file was inside of the About Me folder and it needed to be separate. I also used the help resource in the program to help me overcome the obstacles as well as resorting to the internet to fix some things. When I finally got everything working it was interesting and exciting to see that everything worked when I opened it all on the browser. There were a lot of benefits from doing this assignment. It introduced me to something I never knew existed and forced me to learn about it and to complete an assignment that was rather difficult. This program will definitely aid me in the future when I become a teacher because I can make webpages to teach lessons more effectively and make them more interesting to students. Students prefer visual aids usually all the time instead of listening to a teach just talk the entire class. This program will be a useful tool for that. I can also make the students deisgn their own webpage for a project, similar to what we did. This assignment definitely helped me realize the importance of technology in a classroom because nowadays, students at very young ages are being introduced to technology of all kinds, such as the smartboards. It is very important that I am up to speed with this and able to teach them and relate to their learning.

Reflection 1

Reflection 1-
This assignment was somewhat difficult because I wasn't sure what to say for my goals. I was tentative about taking this course because I didn't know how I was going to approach it. Most of the people that I talked to that are taking this class have a very broad knowledge of all of the things we are going to be going over and learning. This made me not want to take the class because I didn't want to be the only one who didn't know anything. My goals range from improving my use with basic things that I encounter daily, such as Microsoft Word, to learning how to do something I've never done before, such as making an electronic portfolio. I have never evaluated myself with my abilities with computers and it is very interesting to see that there are so many programs and features available to use on a computer that I never even noticed before. I am very eager to learn about all of these different aspects and be able to use them from now on. This assignment really helped me to see what I was going to be learning and also how I was going to challenge myself by doing so. I know that most of this stuff will not come easy to me, but at the same time I will have a positive attitude and know that all of these things will help me be a better teacher who can relate to the students and the technology that they are growing up with. From doing this assignment, saying my goals made it easier for me to map out what is coming. I feel like I should be evaluating myself in every class I am taking, that way, I will be less nervous and more confident to perform a task because I will be prepared for what is coming. I think just writing this reflection alone has helped me to better understand what will be expected in this course. This assignment contributed to my understanding of integrating technology into the education process because I truly realize now how important technology is and also how important it is to make sure I keep up with the newest technology. Everything we are doing in our class is really important to know to be able to relate to our students as best as we can. Students don't want to have a teacher who lectures. They want teachers with power points and web pages so they can be visually stimulated.

Assignment #1

I have a lot of learning objectives/goals for myself while taking this course. I have never been the type to be very comfortable using a computer. I am usually always the person who is writing things down when everyone else is typing, but I have to learn more about the computer because technology is quickly advancing. One of my goals is to become more familiar with the other tools in the Microsoft Office Suite. I am familiar with Microsoft word and how to type documents and essays, but I have only made a few powerpoints in my life and I have never used Excel. I think that these programs would benefit me a lot and I am looking forward to learning more about them. Another goal I have is to be able to learn how to make my own webpage. This is something that I have only done once for a class but I do not remember how to do it at all. This could be very useful for putting up information about myself for job opportunities (like what you showed us in class) or just a place for friends and family to view. My third goal is to be able to learn more about Mac computers. I would just really like to know the basic functions and be able to use them. I have never used a Mac and I just am curious to know why so many people prefer them over PCs. I know we won't be focusing on learning how to use them but I think it would be interesting to try using one for one of my projects. My 4th goal is to learn how to attach hyperlinks onto webpages. I have always wondered how to do this. The webpage you showed us was really organized and had multiple links, such as the link to your trip to China. This is a really good way to organize everything and make it easier for the viewer to access. My last goal is to be able to make the electronic portfolio really well. I am a bit nervous for this assignment and it sounds intimidating but I feel confident that I will learn what I need to know to be able to do this. All of my goals are mainly for my own benefit, but they will also help me very soon when I am out of college and starting my career. I will hopefully be able to make impressive powerpoints and webpages to help me teach and convey the material better to the students.

About Me

My name is Sandra. I am from New Jersey. I am a senior at the University of Hartford. I am living off campus this year and it is an interesting transition having to commute to school when I was used to living on campus. I feel much more independent living this way though. I am an English major and also minoring in French and Education. I hope to become a secondary English teacher or a writer/editor. I really would love to be a teacher because I love working with kids and this is what I have wanted to do since I was very young. I have always dreamt about being a teacher and I really hope it will happen. I am specializing in creative writing, particularly poetry. My favorite poet is Theodore Roethke. I am trying to be a better fiction writer but it is challenging because I am not very good at incorporating dialogue into stories. I am very interested in the French langauge and would love to become fluent in it. It would be a dream come true for me if I was able to live in France for a small part of my life. I traveled there before and I had an amazing time. If my career in the field of English does not work out, I would love to be a French teacher, tutor, or translator. I am very sad that I am graduating this year because I wish I had more time to explore other subject areas that are of interest to me, such as marine biology. I am excited to take CT 243 because I am not very good with computers and I would like to learn a lot more and be able to use my knowledge in the classroom.

Pan's Labyrinth

This was also a very strange movie that mixes the real world with the fantasy world. The main character Ofelia interacts with this faun and many other creatures from the fantasy world. The faun tells her she needs to complete 3 tasks. The role of three is introduced again and is a mythical element like a fairy tale. Whenever anything gets too rough to handle, she goes into this fantasy world. This reminds me of Don Quixote and Perceval who both were totally obsessed with the fantasy world. This fantasy world made them happy, but everybody else thought that they wwere crazy. I thought the ending of the movie was the most interesting. When she dies, she imagines herself to be in this fantasy world with her parents but she really isn't. She is really dying in "the real world" but she does not like her life in the real world so she dies happily in her fantasy world.

Run Lola Run

This was one of the weirdest movies I have ever seen. It was interesting though because even though there was repetition about how every different story began, the ending changed a lot and it made me want to find out what was going to happen. I didn't think of it while watching it, but you mentioned that it was like a fairy tale because it was told in 3s. This already makes it mythical. It was a very dramatic film and certain things could not possibly happen. For example, when Lola screams and shatters the glass, or when she screams at the casino and gets the ball to roll exactly where she wants it to. I also thought it was unrealistic about how the time seemed to go very slow when she was running. For example, when she needed to meet Mannie by 12, it was 11:59 and she was still blocks away but somehow made it there by 12. I guess the movie sort of teaches a lesson too. The lesson would be to always do the honorable thing because in the last story, Lola does not steal money, she wins it and Mannie gets his money back from the homeless man who took it. The other stories didn't work out because they were stealing and using weapons to get what they needed.

The Ogre (Day 4)

1) What do you think the significance of the mirror twins and Lothar (they seem to have a special place at the Napola and with Abel) ? And what about the way in which they die? How do you read this? (Hint: Revelation 2:16 says- "Therefore repent, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth."


When he finds Haro and Hajo, Tournier writes, " Twins carry the despiritualization of the flesh further. It is no longer a matter of a contradictory tumult in which souls neutralize each other. The two bodies really have only one concept between them with which to clothe themselves in intelligence and fill themselves with spirit" (287). He tried to figure out ways to tell them apart and then he realized that they are mirror twins who can be superimposed on one another face to face, not one on top of the other like the others. He says, "I have always been extremely interested in the processes of inversion an, permutation and superimposing; photography provided a special illustration of them, but only in the realm of the imagination. And now here I find the theme that has always haunted me actually written out in children's flesh!" (289). I think these twins represent good and evil, and that both of these things are within every person. I think this because of the way one side of them matches up perfectly with the other side of the other twin.

The Ogre (Day 3)

Discuss the emphasis upon animals in Rominten. What do you think the aurochs symbolize? Or why the emphasis on the hunt? Try to extract as many meanings as possible from this.

To me, the animals represent many things. I also think it is interesting that throughout this whole time we see Tiffauges as being disgusted with the consumption and killing of the animals because prior to this it was him who was obsessed with becoming something by consuming it. I think he finally may be discovering what is going on. The animals go along with the theme of consumption throughout the novel. An example of consumption was when Goering was eating a half of a roast boar and he fed it to the lion who was sitting behind him. Tournier writes, "From then on the leg passed regularly back and forth between the two ogres, who gazed at each other affectionately as they chewed the lumps of black, musky flesh (206). It seems that every time someone commits a bad deed or acts like an animal they are described as an ogre, a ferocious creature that does harm to others. I thought it was bizarre that after killing the animals, whoever is doing so, laughs and is very happy about it. For example, when the Master of Hunt killed the doe, he was laughing and chortling with glee (210). This portrays the sort of sick mentality that some people have when they commit a horrendous deed, such as killing an innocent person/animal. This immediately made me think of the Holocaust and the fact that the Nazis were happy about what they did. When the horse was shot behind the ear and collapsed, Tiffauges nearly passed out. When the owner removed the horse's "shoes" and the hide, it reminded me of the Holocaust when the Jewish people were killed, the Nazis took some of their belongings and even removed their teeth.

Another interesting moment is when Tiffauges sees a herd of enormous creatures approaching him. They were black and shaggy as bears and humped like bison. Tiffauges recognized them as bulls, but obviously of a prehistoric type, such as depicted in neolithic cave drawings- that is aurochs, with their short horns like daggers and withers rippling with a thick mane (201). To me, this herd symbolizes the Nazis invading and taking over. They are running towards Tiffauges to make him aware of what is coming. I also think it is interesting that they are black because this color symbolizes a lot. Black always means death and foreshadows bad things to come. I did a little research about aurochs and I found out that there is actually a German flag with an auroch's head on it in some region in Germany. Now I am pretty certain that the aurochs represent the terror that the Nazis brought.

The Ogre (Day 2)

Write about 2 things that interest/intrigue you in the text.

Two things that stuck out when reading the novel were the antlers of the elk and the pigeons that were represented as twins. Tournier writes, "He stood with a pigeon in each hand, putting them together and setting them apart like the two halves of one simple harmonious object that has been accidentally broken. Everytime the two russet brothers touched, they formed an egg by an automatic reflex that intermingled all of their parts. It was as if they were drawn together by a magnetic force (143). I am not really sure what these pigeons represent, and the whole idea of the twins but I am guessing it could represent good and evil. After Tiffauges holds these pigeons that are artifically made into twins, as Madame Unruh states, he sees and hears the wings of the silver pigeon flying over him. Madame Unruh trembles because the silver pigeon was supposed to represent the union between her and her husband. Tiffauges does not scare the pigeons, he welcomes them when he places his hands out to get them on his hand. To me, this could mean that when he has one pigeon on one hand, that is the evil side, and when there is one on the other hand, it represents the goodness. I am not sure if the pigeons are a good thing, because Tournier writes that the more pigeons invade Tiffauge's life, the more he remains alone and becomes silent. He then helps a sick bird that he feeds with his own mouth and he feels a sort of connection with it. "He thought he could see in its eyes the look of a mind deepened and disillusioned by premature experience of lonliness and sorrow," which is similar to the way Tiffauges considers his life.


Tournier writes, "Tiffauges threw it open and staggered back before the monster that stood framed there. It was at once like a horse, buffalo, and a deer. It took a step forward and was immediately halted by its enormous antlers, with jagged tips, that got caught on the door posts. I think it is really interesting that the elk is described as a monster. This makes me think that there is some sort of parallel between Tiffauges and the elk. I think the antlers are a symbol as well. Antlers are also a feature of an animal that has two sides. There are two antlers on the elk, that I also think go along with the theme of good and evil and how it relates to Tiffauge's life. Tiffauges was really scared but then he got a piece of bread from the table and proceeded to feed the elk. The elf seemed satisfied and returned back outside, leaving Tiffauges alone. One night when the elk came back, Tiffauges saw that its eyes were covered in two white films, figuring out that it was blind. "Now Tiffauges understood the begging demeanor, the awkward gait, the somnambulistic slowness, and because of his own awful myopia he felt closer to the dark giant" (177).

The Ogre (Day One pages 3-93)

1) At the start of the novel Abel presents himself first as an ogre (which has mythic status) and then as the owner of a Parisian garage. How do you view these self-presentations? How do they correspond to and /or differ from one another?



Abel's first diary entry explains that his wife Rachel used to call him an ogre, or "a fabulous moster emerging from the mists of time" which Abel agrees that he thinks he has issued from the mists of time. He explains that a monster is a creature that is shown and mocked and exhibited at fairs. He says if you don't want to be a monster that you must conform to society's wishes and be just like them. After he explains this he introduces himself and says that he runs a garage in the Place de la Porte. I think he gives both of these self-presentations to show that he is a simple human who runs a garage, but that he also is similar to an ogre because he is special and unique from the rest. I think he also is similar to an ogre because people fear ogres, especially children and he develops an interest in children that is confused with molestation and and petifilia. When I think of an ogre, I think of a disgusting creature that is big and gross, similar to how Nestor is described. Abel, on the other hand, is described as being really puny and clumsy, which doesn't sound like the characteristics of an ogre at all.

2) Why is part one written as a diary? Why does he call these his sinister writings? What might this imply?

I think that part one is written as a diary because he Abel is reflecting on himself as a person and revealing to the reader why he feels a certain way. I think it is interesting that the novel begins with diary entries because a diary is supposed to be something private. Abel tells us that what he has written should be taken seriously and I take this as some sort of warning that we are not going to like what comes in the novel. Abel says, "I have two sets of writing: one that is "adroit," pleasant, social, commercial, reflecting the masked character I pretend to be in the eyes of society; and one that is "sinister," distorted by all of the "gauchenesses" of genius, full of flashes and cries- in short, inhabited by the spirit of Nestor (30). He has mixed perceptions about himself but he believes that he is just as sinister as his writings because he has to constantly conceal who he is and try to appease society. I think this is also saying how he is very similar to Nestor and Nestor taught him how to write by holding his hand and then Abel says that the sinister writings are the work of the both of them. I think it is interesting because although they are similar, they are different. Nestor is limited by time and Abel has an eternity, just like the story of Cain and Abel from the bible. They are alike in the fact that Nestor is "a monstous creature with something of genius and something of magic about him" (18). I am not sure what to make of all of this yet, but these are some things that I have noticed.

100 Years of Solitude (Chapters 16-20)

Choose two of the discussion topics below for your blog post.

1) The fact that Ursula shrinks and becomes like a doll

Marquez writes, "She finally mixed up the past with the present in such a way that in the two or three waves of lucidity that she had before she died, no one knew for certain whether she was speaking about what she felt or what she remembered. Little by little she was shrinking, turning into a fetus, becoming mummified in life to the point that in her last months she was a cherry raisin lost inside of her nightgown...She looked like a newborn old woman" (341). Ursula's wisdom and reason was gone. I think she is shrinking because it symbolizes the fact that all good things must come to an end, meaning Ursula's life and also meaning that Macondo is going to experience more horrible things. She was always trying to make everything right and provide everyone with the knowledge she had. I also think that her shrinking shows a sign of returning to the past in terms of Macondo. There is a constant repetition and the town continues to go through the same things and experience misfortune.


2) The assassination of Aureliano Amador

Aureliano Amador is the only survivor of the 17 sons from 17 different women and they all have to die so I sort of knew that he was going to die at some point. Marquez writes, "Two policemen who had been chasing Aureliano Amador for years, who had tracked him like bloodhounds across half the world, came out from among the almond trees on the opposite sidewalk and took two shots with their Mausers which neatly penetrated the cross of ashes" (374). Aureliano and Jose Arcadio did not remember him and pushed him into the street. Aureliano stayed alive not because of self preservation but because of fear. I think it is interesting that the shots "penetrated the cross of ashes" because that makes a reference back to the marks that all seventeen brothers had on their foreheads, indicating that what they brought to Macondo was finally over now that all of them are gone.

100 Years of Solitude (Chapters 11-15)

Choose 2 topics to write about

Significance of Fernanda

Fernanda's mother told her that she would be a queen one day and she believed it. Even the nuns at school said that she was going to be a queen. Her husband sleeps with Petra Cotes and says "that he had to do it so that the animals would keep on breeding." Fernanda pretended that she did not know the truth about Petra. Fernanda tried to impose on the family and impose the customs of her ancestors. She put an end to the eating in the kitchen and said that they should eat in the dining room. I think she kind of represents a foreigner who is trying to change the ways of the Buendia household, just as everything else in the novel is trying to make changes in Macondo. She tries to impose her ways to get them to see that what they are doing is wrong and they need to go outside of their family for once.

Arrival of modern inventions in Macondo

The people of Macondo were dazzled by the inventions. Marquez writes, "it was if God had decided to put the test to every capacity for surprise and was keeping the inhabitants of Macondo in a permanent alternation between excitement and disappointment, doubt and revelation, to an extreme that no one knew for certain where the limits of reality lay" (224). The people do not know what to believe because they are always experiencing tragedy. When the railroad was built, a ticket window was built and a wooden station with a desk and a telephone. There were agronomists, hydrologists, topographers, and surveyors. The people of Macondo were suspicious of these people and thought they had something to do with the war. So many changes had taken place that the inhabitants had a hard time recognizing their own town. Aureliano Segundo was happy about the avanlanche of foreigners that came into Macondo. Colonel Aureliano Buendia did not feel the same way. He shut himself into his room because he felt like the foreigners were not really interested in greeting him because of sympathy. Ursula became excited every time the train came around. Remedios the beauty was the only one who was immune to the banana plague. She was happy in her own world of simple realities (229). She didn't understand why women wore corsets and petticoats. Men desired her, even when she shaved her head and did not do what the other women were doing.

100 Years of Solitude (Chapters 6-10)

Choose two themes that relate to the novel as a whole.

One theme I noticed while reading is the theme of death. There is always a mention of someone dying and some deaths are unexplained, such as the death of Jose Arcadio. The most shocking thing to me, that occurs in Chapter 7 is the death of Jose Arcadio Buendia. After shouting in his ear and shaking him, they could not wake JAB up. That is when they realized that he was dead. After this, outside there were tons of yellow flowers falling from the sky. Marquez writes, "They fell on the town all through the night in a silent storm, and they covered the roofs and blocked the doors and smothered the animals who slept outdoors. So many flowers fell from the sky that in the morning the streets were carpeted with a compact cushion and they had to clear them away with shovels and rakes" (140). The flowers also bring in the theme of magic because the scene that is portrayed is very unrealistic. This could be a representation that there are more deaths to come and that the town of Macondo is doomed. I looked up the meaning of yellow flowers and found that yellow flowers can mean "new beginnings and happiness" which kind of confuses me because I am not sure what to make of the meaning of then. It is confusing because they symbolize happiness but at the same time they smother animals while they sleep and cover the whole town, which I think means that death is invading the town. Perhaps this could mean that one character is going to find happiness and the others will be suffering.

Another theme that is present within these chapters is the them of incest, as we discussed in class. You mentioned in class that the family tries to keep their family going and well known in the town, but they go about it in the wrong way. They sleep with each other and have inbred children instead of creating outside of their family. Jose Arcadio tries to sleep with his own mother and she refuses, providing him with a young virgin girl named Pilar Ternera who she paid to sleep with Jose Arcadio. Marquez writes, "Pilar Ternera, his mother, who had made his blood boil in the darkroom, was as much an irresistable obsession for him as she had been first for jose Arcadio and then for Aureliano" (111). When she denies him saying that God is her witness and she can't do it, he calls her a whore. This also makes me think of another thing that we discussed - a girl being a virgin. This gives the man a lot of power over a woman because she is innocent and then corrupted by a man who is experienced. Jose Arcadio dies in battle and I believe that the theme of death comes to those who have done something wrong and deserved it in some way.

100 Years of Solitude (Chapters 1-5)

1) Choose a character from the first 5 chapters and do a study of him/her. How does the novel present this character? Why? What do you think he or she represents in the novel? (Think about archetypes and myths. Garcia Marquez is drawing from a lot of myth and literature here in his creation of this novel.) Refer to specific scenes in this novel to support your answer.

As I read the novel, I thought of Don Quixote immediately because the main character Jose Arcadio Buendia is very similar. Marquez writes that Buendia has an unbridled imagination and that made me think of Don Quixote and his imagination and obsession with knighthood. Since this is told as a flashback, Marquez says that "at this time Buendia did not believe in the honesty of gypsies" (2). This tells us already that something is going to happen with gypsies and something will alter Buendia's view of reality. It is clear that he is a leader but he reminds me of Perceval in Chapter one also. When his wife is crying about the money, he does not console her because "he was completely absorbed in his tactical experiments with the abnegation of a scientist and even at the risk of his own life" (3) This foreshadows that he is willing to risk everything, including himself and people he loves, because he is obsessed with the magic. This also shows that he has the characteristics of becoming a "madman." Marquez writes, "Suddenly, without warning, his feverish activity was interrupted and was replaced by a kind of fascination. He spent several days as if he were bewitched, softly repeating to himself a string of fearful conjectures without giving credit to his own understanding" (4). Shortly after this, Ursula gets tired of her husband never helping her and she says, "If you have to go crazy, please go crazy all by yourself" (5)! He did not even flinch at the fact that his wife threw the astrolabe at the floor and then the whole village was convinced that he had lost his reason. Buendia represents the whole myth vs reality and sanity vs. insanity in the novel. From the first chapter alone, there are so many citations indicating that he is going to become insane and he will abandon everyone and everyone will abandon him when he does so.



2) Choose a theme/symbol you find important in these initial chapters. How does this comment on what we have read so far? Why do you feel this to be the case? Refer to specific scenes in this novel to support your answer.


A theme that is obviously important in this novel is the theme of insanity. In Chapter 4, Marquez marks the beginning of Buendia slipping into insanity. After Buendia get the mechanism of the clock to a mechanical ballerina, Marquez writes "that discovery excited him much more than any of his other harebrained undertakings. He stopped eating. He stopped sleeping. Only the vigilance and care of rebeca kept him fron being dragged off by his imagination into a state of perpetual delirium from which he could not recover. The fever of insomnia fatigued him..." (76-77). This reminds me a lot of Don Quixote when he read so many books about chivalry during the night and day that the reading withered his brain and he went mad. Buendia cannot figure out what day it is and he constantly says it is Monday even though people assure him that it is no longer Monday. Buendia says, "This is a disaster. Look at the air, listen to the buzzing of the sun, the same as yesterday anf the day before. Today is Monday too" (77). The most shocking part about this chapter is the ending when everyone grabs him and brings him outside and ties him to a tree. This is very strange and it reminds me of a modern day insane asylum when a person is mad they are put all by themselves where they cannot do harm to anyone else. This shows me that they think that Buendia is dangerous and needs to be alone. It is interesting that Marquez writes that he is "giving off green froth at the mouth." This compares him to some sort of animal that is scary. Buendia also is talking to himself and saying things that no one understands.

Grimm's Fairy Tales (Day Two)

Come up with two themes in two stories. Use specific examples from the literature to support your ideas and be ready to discuss them in class.

In the tales read for today, I noticed several reoccuring themes, such as the theme of violence already discussed, along with the theme of rewards of treasures, like gold or silver. There also seems to be repetition of the number 12 and I guess this number has some magical aspect about it. Twelve was mentioned in the Twelve Brothers story read for tuesday and also in two of the stories for today that I will be talking about. In A Tale of One Who Traveled, it mentions several times that when the clock struck 12, everything disappeared. This immediately made me think of Cinderella when she has to leave the ball or all of her things will turn back to normal. This also brings in the theme of magic and fantasy in every tale because things cannot just disappear and appear. In Rapunzel, when she was twelve years old the Witch shut her up in a tower. It is very interesting to read these tales carefully and see the characteristics that are similar in each. In almost every tale, there is a mention of some sort of treasure, mostly in the form of gold because that is the most valuable. I also noticed that when women are being described they are often described as being as beautiful as the sun. They are also considered to be as valuable as gold. This is seen in Rapunzel when the Grimm's brothers write,"Rapunzel grew to be the most beautiful child under the sun" and "Rapunzel had long and beautiful hair, as fine as spun gold." This same theme is seen again in A Tale of One Who Traveled when the King promises his daughter to whoever would venture. The daughter is described as "the most beautiful young lady that the sun ever shone upon." This also shows that women are described as being the most beautiful when they are young. The King also says that the castle is full of an immense amount of treasure guarded by evil spirits and can turn any poor man into a rich man. When the youth in this story beats the old man, the old man offers him treasure to make him stop. He shows him 3 full chests of gold in the cellar. At the end of this story is the typical happy ending where he gets to marry the king's daughter and they live happily ever after. In Thumbling, Thumbling's father gives him away for a fine piece of gold in return. It is ironic in this story because Thumbling's father loves him and says that he would never trade his son for all of the riches in the world, yet he accepts gold and gives his son away to two men. This shows that people are greedy and would always want riches. In The Travels of Thumbling, thumbling helps the thieves steal the King's treasure that consists of gold and silver. At the end of the story, when the fox frees Thumbling, he presents to his father a piece of gold. In The Golden Goose, when Dummling, the "youngest and most incapable son," cuts the tree down, he finds a goose with feathers of pure gold. The name Dummling already makes the son sound like he is incapable. Dummling sounds like "dumb" and he is the youngest so it is assumed that he is the weakest. In some of these tales, there are clear morals and values present, but for the most part I think they teach the wrong things. I think it is instilling a false hope in people by saying that the only important things are possessing material riches and being beautiful. Those who are not as attractive or those who are poor do not deserve anything. These tales do not praise difference, the ideal person is the same in each story.

Grimm's Fairy Tales (Day One)

1) What is the function of gender in these stories? What messages are transmitted through them concerning the roles of men and women? Why do you think this is the case? When we think "fairy tale" what does this imply concerning gender roles? Do these stories support or subvert this accepted convention (or possibly both)?

As I read these tales, there seems to be a common theme among most of them. In almost every tale, it begins saying that there is a beautiful woman, who is usually wealthy or a princess. This shows me that the tales glorify women and consider them very important and delicate. Women are loved by all because of their beauty, which is also a theme within the tales. Men are the rugged and rough ones who are doing all of the manual labor and tasks while the woman is simply there to look at. I think that the message in these tales is not a good message for women because it sort of makes it seem like women are incapable in some way adn being beautiful is the only important thing. On the other hand, in mostly every story, the woman is being punished for something. For example, in Briar Rose the girl falls into a deep sleep because of her finger getting pricked on the spindle. The handless maiden gets her hands chopped off by her own father because he does not want to be taken away by the Evil One. In the twelve brothers, the woman is considered the prize possession but then she sacrifices herself for her brothers because she feels like they are more important than her. In Little Red Riding Hood, the grandma and the LRRH are both manipulated by the wolf which shows that the women are weak and easily manipulated by men. When I think of a fairy tale, I think of a happy ending for everyone in the story that is not evil. This holds to be true in all of the tales that I have read for today. Both women and men in the tales are given an opportunity to be happy. This is a good characterisitic of fairy tales because it gives equality to both men and women.

2) What is the role of violence in some of these stories? Why does violence play such an important role? What types of violence are present? Why do you think this is the case? Is there an implied message here or is it violence for the sake of violence? (especially since some of these tales seem to border on slasher film territory)


When I read these tales, I was shocked by the amount of violence in them. Not only was there a lot of violence, but it was gruesome things like chopping people's heads and hands off. I think violence was incorporated to convey reality and show that there are always good people and bad people in the world. These tales teach us lessons and allow us to choose whether or not we want to side with the good or evil. In the tales there was both physical violence and violence that was talked about. In the Twelve Brothers the brothers made a pact that they would kill every maiden because they were going to be killed because of a maiden(their sister). This was only talked about and they never harmed the sister. In Hansel and Grethel there was physical violence when Grethel shoved the witch's head into the oven and they watched her burn. It was also disturbing when the tale was telling about how the witch likes to make children fat to eat them. In Little Red Riding Hood there was violence when the wolf ate the grandma and LRRH and also when the hunter cut open the belly of the wolf and placed stones in it. I do not remember the stones part ever happening and I think its really weird. In the handless maiden, the Evil One wants the father to cut his daughter's hands off and he does. Her hands are replaced with silver ones and then she eventually grows new hands because an angel and God see that she is not evil and they help her. In Roland, the witch cuts off her own daughter's head because she thinks it is her stepdaughter in the dark. The witch was killed by the thorns on the flower scratching her. In all of the stories, the violence is gruesome and not typical ways of violence. I do not understand why some of the violence is so disturbing, especially in tales that are read to children, but I do think there is some message behind it. I think it instills fear and shows that there are consequences for acting violent.

Don Quixote CH 46-52

1) Discuss the closing episodes of Part 1 of the novel that concern Don Quixote. Describe his character in the final chapters. Has he become "un-quixodicized?" Why or why not? Why do you think Cervantes presents us with this evolution in Quixote's character? Use quotes for support to your analysis.
2) How might the sections read for today reflect on part 1 as a novel as a whole? What recurrent themes do you find here that reinforce or possibly change your reading of the novel? Use quotes.
3) Choose a quote to analyze.

The sections read for today reflect on part 1 because there are recurrent themes and I do not think that Don Quixote has become "un-quixodicized." He is still obsessed and fascinated with all of the same things that he was in the beginning. Don Quixote stayed true to what he believed in, even when everyone else did not believe in him and thought he was a madman. In chapter XLVII, there is mention of chivalry books again and I thought that this was important because it has been mentioned several times already in the novel. The canon says, 'The truth is, my dear sir, that I myself consider these so-called books of chivalry to be prejudicial to the public good...In my opinion this kind of writing comes under the heading of Milesian tales which are absurd stories, concerned only to amuse and not to instruct, unlike apologues which amuse and instrust at the same time. And even though the main aim of such books is to amuse, I don't know how they can succeed when they're too full of so many monstrous absdurdities...What mind that isn't totally barbarous or uneducated can derive any pleasure from reading that. Apart from this, their style is harsh, their adventures are incredible, their loves are licdentious, their civilities are uncouth...there's no ingenious artifice about them, so they deserve to be thrown out of a Christian society as useless wastrels" (440-1). The canon is basically saying that he thinks that chilvalry books do no good for anybody and they should all be destroyed. The priest, for the most part, agrees with the canon but there is one difference. The priest is able to appreciate the chivalry books and he has found one good quality in them. It is interesting that the canon is religious and Christian and so is the priest, yet they are so different. The priest is able to see the good in anything. He believes in Don Quixote and he even is able to see the good in the chivalry books. The priest acknowledges the fact that in these chivalry stories the author and the reader can escape from their own lives and become something different. The books allow you to expand your imagination and show your creativity, something we all need in life.

In chapter XLIX, Don Quixote finally sticks up for himself and disagrees with the canon
about what he has been saying about chivalry. I am glad this conversation happens because this is what I thought about Don Quixote the whole time- that he is not mad and that other people are under some "spell" of being boring and being committed to a traditional lifestyle and Christian faith. Don Quixote says, "It seems to me, my dear hidalgo, that your speech was intended to give me to understand that there never have been any knights errant in the world, and that all books of chivalry are false, full of lies, harmful and or no use to society, and that I have done wrong in reading them, and worse in believing them, and worse still in imitating them and setting out to follow the rigorous profession of knight-errantry that they teach...Well, for my part, I consider that it is you who are out of your senses and under some spell, for you have taken it upon yourself to utter such blasphemies against what has been so well received in the world and so widely accepted as the truth that anyone who denies it, as you do, deserves the same punishment that you say you inflict on books that annoy you when you read them" (453). Don Quixote then goes on a rant about people in history, such as Tristan and Iseult Achilles, and King Arthur, saying that is everything in chivalry is false, then who is to say that all of these people existed? The canon was amazed that Don Quixote actually knew about real events and fictional ones and that his mind wasn't solely fixed on fiction, and he is indeed smart. The last paragraph in this chapter struck me because, after the canon had insulted him all along, he sort of compliments him. The canon says, "Nor is it right for a man like you, honorable and talented and intelligent, to give any credit to the extravagant nonsense that is written in those ridiculous books of chivalry" (455). To me, this kind of shows that the canon has been defeated and outsmarted by Don Quixote and he realizes that Don Quixote is smart, but he does not change his feelings about chivalry.

Don Quixote Ch 36-45

Choose 2 quotes from these chapters for analysis.

In Chapter XLIII Cervantes brings up again that Don Quixote seems smart when he talks about things other than chivalry. When chivalry is brought up he gets caught up in it and his imagination and what he has read gets the best of him. Cervantes writes, "He only talked nonsense when people led him on to the subject of chivalry, and when discussing all other matters he showed a clear and confident understanding, so that his actions were always discrediting his ideas, and his ideas his actions; but in these second instructions that he gave Sancho he showed a ready wit and raised both his good sense and his madness to a high level" (770). I thought this was interesting because it talks about how Don Quixote is smart aside from chivalry, but his second instructions bring his madness to a high level. This is a good way to start the chapter because it really makes the reader wonder what is going to happen. I am not sure what to make of Don Quixote telling Sancho all of these things to do. In one way, it seems like Don Quixote is just looking out for Sancho when he tells him to cut his fingernails and to not eat onions because that shows that he is a peasant. He also tells him to not wear loose clothing because it is a sign of a "lackadaisical spirit." Don Quixote also tells him to limit his use of proverbs because it can make one's discourse flimsy and vulgar.

Another quote that I think is important appears in this same chapter towards the end. Don Quixote is trying to make Sancho something that he is not and Sancho is listening but he doesn't think it is useful is he won't remember everything anyway. Sancho says, "If you don't think I'm up to this governing, I'll give it up here and now, because I'm more concerned about the smallest snippet of my soul than the whole length of my body, and I can stay alive as plain Sancho on bread and onions just as well as I can as governor on partridges and capons, and what's more what we're asleep we're all the same, great and small, rich and poor" (775). I think this quote is significant because Sancho does not want to change who he is to satisfy others. He is fine with living as a peasant because he is happy. He does not want to be corrupted by becoming a governor. Sancho says, "I'm more interested in going as Sancho to heaven than as a governor to hell." Don Quixote should pay attention to this and learn from Sancho because he has some good points to make. Sancho does not have to impress other people. Don Quixote is solely concerned with making himself the best he can be and he tries to make others change who they are, but sometimes it is better to stay true to yourself.

Don Quixote Ch 28-35

Pick two quotes that interest you and which you find comment on major themes in the novel (ones we have discussed or new themes you find here). Be sure to state which chapter they come from and be prepared to discuss them in class.





In Chapter 28, there is a major emphasis on beauty and the idealization of women. In the beginning, Cardenio and the priest see what they think to be "a lad in farmer's clothes." They were fixated on the farmer because they thought it was unusual that a man had such nice feet and legs. Cervantes writes, "They approached him quietly that he didn't even notice them, beign so engrossed in bathing his feet, which looked like nothing so much as two pieces of white crystal lying among the other stones there. They were astonished at the whiteness and the beauty of those feet, which didn't look as if they were accustomed to treading the clods..."(248). When they get closer, they realize that this "farmer" is actually a beautiful woman. Cervantes writes, "her hands in her hair looked like pieces of white snow" (248). The descriptions of this woman portray her as very delicate. The usage of the words "whiteness" and "snow" are symbols for purity. Women are pure and beautiful and should rely on a man or someone stronger to do a task. This is also shown when the woman tries to get up and run away and her feet fail her. To me, this shows that Cervantes is trying to make a point that women are weaker and fragile creatures and the more important thing about them is their beauty. I think that in this chapter a woman's beauty can also be seen as their greatest flaw because many people are so obsessed with the external beauty that they underestimate women's abilities. This also makes women vulnerable to be taken advantage of.









In chapter 30, Cardenio is talking to Dorotea about Don Quixote while he was talking to Sancho. The priest told Dorotea that she "put on an intelligent performance in the way she'd invented a story, kept it brief and made it follow the pattern of the books of chivalry" (279). The quotes that I am writing about are about the theme of "madness and obsession" that we have talked about in class. The priest then says, "isn't it extraordinary how this unfortunate hidalgo believes all these lies and fictions, just because they imitate the style and manner of the nonsense in his books" (279)? The priest then recognizes that Don Quixote is a smart man with good intentions, but he also admits that when you bring up chivalry Don Quixote is obsessed and becomes a little mad and cannot see reality. This shows that, although most people believe Don Quixote to be mad, certain people are able to see past that and view him as a "man of excellent understanding."

Don Quixote Ch 19-27

As we did for Tuesday's class, please bring in your own analysis of two episodes which you find reflect either 1) themes we have already discussed in class or 2) new themes that you deem revolutionary/ important.

Throughout the novel, Don Quixote struggles with being able to view the world as it is. His intentions are good and he wants everyone to be equal, but he winds up causing more harm than good. He is so obssessed with his books and vision of knighthood that he cannot distinguish reality from his fantasy world in the books he reads. In Chapter 21 Sancho and Don Quixote see a person approaching them. Sancho says, "All I can make out is a bloke on a donkey, brown like mine, with something shiny on his head" (166). Don Quixote, on the other hand, sees a knight coming toward them on a dapple-grey steed and wearing a helmet of gold. Sancho laughs at Don Quixote when he says that he thinks it is a knight. In reality, the person coming towards them was a barber who put his brass basin on his head to prevent the rain from ruining his hat. Cervantes writes, "And this was what made Don Quixote think he saw a dapple-grey steed, and a knight, and a helmet of gold, because he was so ready to accomodate everything he saw to his delirious chivalry and his errant thoughts" (167). The funny part about this is that after he discovers that this person was just a barber, he then tells Sancho that the basin really is an enchanted helmet. He says, "I think this famous piece of this enchanted helmet must, by some strange accident have fallen into the hands of a person who did not understand or appreciate its value and, not knowing what he was doing, he must, on seeing, that it is made of the purest gold, have melted down the other half to sell it, and with the remaining half made this like a barber's basin" (168). Don Quixote steals the basin and wants to use it for chivalrous reasons.


One theme that we talked about in class was storytelling. We mentioned that storytelling is very important and we need fiction to survive. Storytelling is important because stories keep getting passed on and information is spread this way. It is also interesting because every individual has their own story to tell and share. In Chapter 24, the Ragged Knight of the Sorry Countenance, also known as Cardenio, tells Don Quixote and Sancho his story. I think Cardenio and Don Quixote are similar because they both act in rushed ways. Cervantes writes, "Cardenio was peering at Don Quixote: a fit of madness had come over him and he was in no state to continue his history, nor would Don Quixote have heard it even if he had, so enraged was he by those allegations about Madasima" (203). This relates to the theme of madness/insanity/obsession that we talked about. Cardenio and Don Quixote are alike in the fact that they overreact and are "mad" and obsessed with certain things to the point that they physically hurt people. Don Quixote says that it is for chivalrous reasons but sometimes he crosses the line. Cardenio attacks Don Quixote and Sancho tries to protect him and then Cardenio runs off.

Don Quixote Ch 1-9

For this post, I'd like you to pick two scenes in which you see Don Quixote as a radical character within the novel thus far. What do you find radical about Don Quixote? What do you think the text states about him as a character?

In chapter one, the narrator states that Don Quixote reads books about chivalry and "his foolish curiosity reached such extremes that he sold acres of arable land to buy these books" (26). He then became so absorbed in these books that his nights were spent reading from dusk til dawn, until the lack of sleep and the excess of reading withered his brain, and he went mad (26). The narrator writes, "Everything he read in his books took possession of his imagination: enchantments, fights, battles, challenges, wounds, sweet nothings, love affairs, storms, and impossible absurdities" (27). When I read this, I immediately thought of Perceval and The Story of the Grail. Don Quixote seems to be very similar to Perceval in the fact that they both are obsessed with knighthood. I do no actually think, at this point, that Don Quixote is "mad." I think he simply is fascinated with knighthood and would do everything and anything to become like the knights he admires in these books. Don Quixote is innocent and wants to fulfill this fantasy of his, but later on in the novel he becomes "radical" and commits rash actions. It seems like Don Quixote, in the beginning, is just obsessed with gaining the eternal fame renown and he does not know what is ahead of him. This is similar to Perceval who also is just obsessed with the external image of knighthood. There is, however, a difference between Don Quixote and Perceval. Don Quixote, although he is striving to become a knight and reap the benefits, he also wants to help others. Sometimes it is hard to figure out what Don Quixote's motives are because he tries to protect people but then he acts very violently and it is shocking because the narrator portrays him as very innocent and child-like, believing whatever he wants to. Perceval did not think about others, even his own mother, at all and was solely concerned with himself.

Don Quixote wanted to start his journey but he remembered that he wasn't knighted yet and he thought about stopping his journey, but his madness prevailed (30). He then decided to be knighted by the first person he chanced upon. After reading this, I looked up the word "quixotic" and found out that it means "foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals; marked by rash lofty romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action." This is the perfect word to describe Don Quixote. Don Quixote's first radical act takes place when he arrives at the inn that he believes to be a castle. He arrives wearing his cardboard visor and begins talking to these wenches who he thinks are beautiful maidens. They cannot understand him and laugh at his appearance and the way he talks to them. The innkeeper recognized "that his guest was not right in the mind" and he decided to go along with what Don Quixote was saying. When the muleteers come, Don Quixote acts crazy. He says, "But to you, vile and base rabble, I pay no heed; stone me, come and draw near, assail me as best you can, for you will soon see how you are made to pay for your folly and your insolence" (39). This shows a different side to Don Quixote that we haven't been introduced to. He threatens the muleteers and he is not afraid to hurt them. In the next chapter, Don Quixote feels proud of himself that he has been "knighted" and he says, "These cries come, no doubt, from some man or woman in distress, who stands in need of my protection and assistance" (42). This shows me that he is willing to follow the true ways of knighthood and serve to protect others. Don Quixote then sees a farmer who is punishing one of his servants and Don Quixote threatens the farmer. He says, "Pay him immediately, and do not answer back; otherwise, by God who rules us, I shall exterminate and annihilate you this very instant" (43). Don Quixote speaks very harshly, but the farmer fears him and unties his servant immediately. Even though, Don Quixote acts this way, he still was trying to do all that he could to help others. His actions, although violent and threatening, show that he has what it takes to become a great knight because he is not selfish.

Dante's Inferno Canti 21-27

4. What do you make of the fact that Dante places Ulysses in Hell (Canto 26)? If you have already read the Odyssey, might this seem at odds? with the Ulysses we find there? What do you make of Dante's decision?

Ulysses and Diomedes were punished together because of the three sins they committed. "And within their flame they bemoan the deceit of of the horse that made the gate to send forth the Romans' noble seed; there within they weep for the art that makes Deidamia, though dead, still grieve for Achilles; and there they bear the punishment for the Palladium" (401). This quote basically sums up what Ulysses and Diomedes did. Dante and Virgil then listen to what Ulysses say about what happened and the Canto sort of abruptly ends. In the beginning of the next Canto, we find out that "the sweet poet," meaning Virgil, has given permission to the flame of Ulysses and Diomedes to leave. Dante is clearly confused and does not know what to punish them for. What may seem as a sin to Dante can be seen as a righteous act to others, which is why I think Virgil makes the decision. For example, the Trojan horse was a trick that allowed the Greeks access into the city of Troy, but it also helped them to end the conflict.

Dante's Inferno Canti 14-20

1. The description of the Old Man of Crete in Canto 14. How do you "read" this Old Man? You might use the note on pg 555-7 of the Durling edition as a source of inspiration.

The Old Man is a statue that is placed looking toward Rome. The description is very detailed, "His head is formed of fine gold, and pure silver are his arms and breast; then he is of brass as far as the fork; from there downward he is all refined iron, except that his right foot is baked clay; and on that one, more than on the other, he stands erect" (225). The description also states that each part of him, except his golden head, is broken by a crack that drips tears. This is a very powerful image. The notes in the back suggest that Dante's myth of the Old Man of Crete has not been fully explained. However, it says that it represents in some sense both the history and the present state of mankind. The metals described in the statue represent the different ages in history. Society is at its best during the Golden age, which is why the statue's head is perfectly fine and not cracked at all. As we move down the statue, and the metals are less valuable, it shows the deterioration in society. The tears and cracks, to me, represent the suffering of humanity and how it is constantly breaking as time passes. The cracks and tears will eventually build up, crumbling the society and drowning humanity.


3. The description of Geryon in Canto 17. How do you interpret this fantastical creature that signifies fraud? Why do you think the notion of fraud is important for Dante (especially given the fact that he is a writer- what do writers do? What is the nature of fictional literature? Do you see any other meanings in this creature?


The description of Geryon is deceiving to Dante because he is described as having "the face of a just man, so kindly seemed its outer skin, and the rest of its torso was that of a serpent" (261). However, this fantastical creature signifies fraud because of its various parts. It has the body of a beast, but the face of a just man. That is confusing and tricks Dante at first. The notion of fraud is very important for Dante because it allows him an escape from reality. Writers use "fraud" or fiction to escape from their own lives and imagine things that they cannot actually ever see in real life. It is a way to relieve stress and expand your imagination. Geryon, to me, kind of means, that every person/creature has multiple parts to them. People are not always evil and are not always good. There is good and evil in everyone. It also means that sometimes, things aren't what you see them to be. Even though the monster's head was the face of a just man, it doesn't mean that he is. I think it is trying to teach us a lesson to be wary of others and to really pay attention to the behavior of others.

Dante's Inferno

1) How does Dante set up the journey here? What themes/ideas does he bring forth to accomplish this? What kind of journey is this? What is the pilgrim's state of mind at this time? Why?

Dante sets up the journey by saying that he found himself in a dark wood and that the straight way was lost. This means that he is no longer on the path to salvation and it is only going to get worse from this point on. It is clear that he is full of fear and he states that he was tired when he abandoned the true way. He encountered three different beasts along the way that made him turn back. They were a leopard, a lion, and a she-wolf. Dante writes that the she-wolf "little by little was driving me back to where the sun is silent." The notes to Canto 1 say that this means that knowledge is darkened and hope is gone. He was falling into a low place, a dark and scary place. Virgil arrives and saves him. Dante asks Virgil for help and tells him that the beast makes his veins and pulses tremble. Virgil tells Dante to follow him and that he will be his guide. Dante begs him to escape this evil so he can eventually ge to the gate of Saint Peter.

2) In the other canti that you read choose one canto that particularly strikes/interests you. What reading/interpretation of this canto can you bring to the discussion on Tuesday?

Canto 3 is very interesting because it is when Dante and Virgil enter the Hell Gate. There were words inscribed on the gate which were stated at the beginning of canto 3. The basic message of these words was that once anyone enters they will be making their way into eternal sorrow and they should abandon their every hope. They then come to a river called Acheron that is gloomy and is the boundary river of Hades, dividing the living from the dead. Charon is a demon that transports the newly deceased across the Acheron. Charon is described as having eyes like glowing coals, which means that they are as hot as flames of fire. Virgil tells Dante that only damned souls pass over the river into Hell. I think that the most important theme in this canto is the theme of sinning. Dante sees what the punishments are for sinning and what the rewards are for being truthful.

The Story of the Grail

2) In the tale, Chretien uses the colors red and white a lot to convey a certain meaning to the reader. Without even reading, one can associate multiple meanings for the words red and white. For example, red can serve to represent evil, blood, violence, and lust. White is the complete opposite, serving to represent things like purity, innocence, angels, and in the tale, Blanchefleur, whose name means "white flower." These colors are present multiple times and Chretien wants to provide a strong impact on the reader. After analyzing the scenes that take place, it is clear why Chretien includes such events in order for the reader to dig a little deeper to decipher what the meaning of each encounter is trying to say. Blood has been mentioned several times in the text. The first scene that I recall involves the Red knight that Perceval kills with the javelin through his eye. This is a very graphic scene where Chretien describes that he struck him through the eye into the brain; blood and brains oozed out the other side at the nape of his neck (353). This scene also ties into the theme of blindness that we discussed in class. Perceval, along with many others, is so obsessed with the external image of becoming a knight that he does not understand what it takes to be one. He does not understand the danger and killing involved. The scene where Perceval sees the blood from the goose's neck on the snow, the blood in the snow immediately reminds him of Blanchefleur. This is strange because the blood is described as a "natural color, spread on the white snow." Earlier, Blanchefleur's beauty was something that was described as very unnatural. Chretien writes, "The blood and the snow together reminded him of the fresh hue on his beloved's face, and he mused until he forgot himself. He thought that the rosy hue stood out against the white of her face like the drops of blood on the white snow"(391). This makes me think of the description of her face when he first saw her, "the crimson hue set on the white of her face was more becoming to her than vermilion to silver" (362). Even though this scene is very strange and sort of disturbing, I take it to be that Perceval really cares about Blanchefleur and he sees her wherever he goes. She is his motivation to do well and become a great and mature knight. He constantly has this image of her beauty instilled in his head and he takes it with him. He shows her that he has matured by not killing the man who killed her father, and instead sending him to King Arthur's prison. On the other hand, I also have a different opinion of Perceval. Since he was so obsessed with the external image of knighthood, I can't help but wonder if he is just obsessed with Blanchefleur's external beauty. It is ironic that Blanchefleur weeps over knighthood to Perceval when Perceval was also contributing to the fact that knighthood has lost its true meaning.